2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The 2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head football coach was Steve Spurrier, who served his fourth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Outback Bowl, L 10–31 vs. Iowa
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
2008 record7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coachSteve Spurrier (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorEllis Johnson (1st season)
Home stadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium (c. 80,250, grass)
2008 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$#  7 –1     13 –1  
No. 13 Georgia  6 –2     10 –3  
Vanderbilt  4 –4     7 –6  
South Carolina  4 –4     7 –6  
Tennessee  3 –5     5 –7  
Kentucky  2 –6     7 –6  
Western Division
No. 6 Alabama x%  8 –0     12 –2  
No. 14 Ole Miss  5 –3     9 –4  
LSU  3 –5     8 –5  
Arkansas  2 –6     5 –7  
Auburn  2 –6     5 –7  
Mississippi State  2 –6     4 –8  
Championship: Florida 31, Alabama 20
    1. – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Preseason

Carolina had their first spring practice on March 21, 2008. It was the first of 15 spring practice sessions for the Gamecocks, who return 54 lettermen in Steve Spurrier's fourth season. The annual Garnet & Black Spring Game was scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 19.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 288:00 pmNC State*
ESPNW 34–080,616
September 48:30 pmat VanderbiltNo. 24
ESPNL 17–2436,850
September 133:30 pmNo. 2 Georgia
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
CBSL 7–1483,704
September 207:00 pmWofford*
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 23–1376,599
September 277:00 pmUAB*
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 26–1378,286
October 42:00 pmat Ole Miss
PPVW 31–2454,628
October 1112:30 pmat Kentucky
RaycomW 24–1770,822
October 188:00 pmNo. 13 LSU
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
ESPNL 17–2482,477
November 17:00 pmTennessee
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
ESPN2W 27–681,731
November 81:00 pmArkansas
  • Williams-Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
PPVW 34–2180,290
November 153:30 pmat No. 3 FloridaNo. 24
CBSL 6–5690,646
November 2912:00 pmat Clemson*
ESPN2L 14–3181,500
January 111:00 amvs. Iowa*
ESPNL 10–3155,117
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1]

Radio coverage for all games was provided by the Gamecock Sports Radio Network.[2]

Game summaries

North Carolina State
See also: 2008 NC State Wolfpack football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wolfpack 0 0 0 0 0
Gamecocks 0 3 10 21 34

Vanderbilt
See also: 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 7 3 0 7 17
Commodores 0 3 14 7 24

Georgia
See also: 2008 Georgia Bulldogs football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs 0 6 8 0 14
Gamecocks 0 7 0 0 7

Wofford
1 2 3 4 Total
Terriers 0 7 3 3 13
Gamecocks 0 10 3 10 23

UAB
See also: 2008 UAB Blazers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Blazers 3 3 0 7 13
Gamecocks 10 10 3 3 26

Mississippi
See also: 2008 Ole Miss Rebels football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 3 14 7 7 31
Rebels 14 7 0 3 24

Kentucky
See also: 2008 Kentucky Wildcats football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 7 7 0 10 24
Wildcats 7 10 0 0 17

LSU
See also: 2008 LSU Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 3 7 7 7 24
Gamecocks 0 17 0 0 17

Tennessee
See also: 2008 Tennessee Volunteers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Volunteers 0 0 6 0 6
Gamecocks 7 14 3 3 27

Arkansas
See also: 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Razorbacks 0 7 7 7 21
Gamecocks 10 7 3 14 34

Florida
See also: 2008 Florida Gators football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 0 3 3 0 6
Gators 21 7 14 14 56

Clemson
See also: 2008 Clemson Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 0 7 7 0 14
Tigers 10 14 7 0 31

Players

Depth chart

These are the projected starters and primary backups for the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2009.

Key Committed Freshmen

Antonio Allen – DB Akeem Auguste – DB Eric Baker – RB Reggie Bowens – LB Jarrett Burns – ATH Ronald Byrd – DL Kenny Davis – DL Aramis Hillary – QB T.J. Johnson – OL Jarriel King – DL Reid McCollum – QB Kenneth Miles – RB D.L. Moore – WR Darrell Simmons - DB Jay Spearman – DB Chaz Sutton – DL Devin Taylor – DL Mike Triglia – TE Charles Whitlock – DB/WR Elliot Williams - OL LaCharles Lindsey - WR

Roster
valign="top"
Wide Receiver
  • 4 Jason Barnes -Freshman[3]
  • 8 Larry Freeman - Sophomore[4]
  • 9 Moe Brown - Junior[5]
  • 11 Kenny McKinley - Senior[6]
  • 13 Mark Barnes - Freshman[7]
  • 14 La’Charles Lindsey Freshman[8]
  • 15 Matt Clements - Freshman[9]
  • 17 Chris Culliver - Sophomore[10]
  • 18 Dion Lecorn - Sophomore[11]
  • 81 Paul Haile - Junior[12]
  • 82 Freddie Brown, III - Junior[13]
  • 83 Scott Spurrier - Junior[14]
  • 85 Joe Hills - Freshman[15]
  • 89 Leon Gamble - Senior [16]
Offensive Lineman
  • 54 Hardee Sanders - Junior[17]
  • 57 Lemuel Jeanpierre - Junior[18]
  • 62 Pierre Andrews - Sophomore[19]
  • 63 Seaver Brown - Sophomore[20]
  • 64 Kevin Young - Sophomore[21]
  • 65 Ryan Broadhead - Freshman[22]
  • 66 Hutch Eckerson - Junior[23]
  • 68 Kyle Nunn - Freshmen[24]
  • 70 Garrett Anderson - Junior[25]
  • 72 Quintin Richardson - Freshman[26]
  • 74 Heath Batchelor - Sophomore[27]
  • 75 Gurminder Thind - Senior[28]
  • 76 Jeremy Burgess - Senior[29]
  • 77 Jamon Meredith - Senior[30]
  • 78 Justin Sorensen - Senior[31]
Tight End
  • 19 Nick Prochak - Sophomore[32]
  • 84 Jared Cook - Junior[33]
  • 87 Alex McGrath - Senior[34]
  • 88 Weslye Saunders - Sophomore[35]
  • 90 Foxy Foxworth - Sophomore[36]
  
Quarterback
  • 5 Stephen Garcia - Freshman[37]
  • 6 Tommy Beecher - Junior[38]
  • 7 Chris Smelley - Sophomore[39]
  • 16 Michael McQueeney - Junior[40]
  • 17 Zac Brindise - Sophomore[41]
Running Back
  • 10 Brian Maddox - Sophomore[42]
  • 22 Bobby Wallace - Junior[43]
  • 20 Taylor Rank - Junior[44]
  • 25 Mike Davis - Senior[45]
Fullback
  • 35 Jim Hutton - Junior[46]
  • 44 Clark Gaston - Sophomore[47]
  • 46 Bryan Kingrey - Senior[48]
  • 47 Patrick DiMarco - Sophomore[49]
Defensive tackle
  • 61 Donte'e Nicholls - Freshman[50]
  • 79 Marque Hall - Senior [51]
  • 81 Terrence Campbell - Sophomore[52]
  • 91 Ladi Ajiboye - Sophomore[53]
  • 95 Nathan Pepper - Junior [54]
  • 97 Kenrick Ellis - Sophomore[55]
Defensive End
  • 40 Eric Norwood - Junior[56]
  • 42 Travian Robertson - Sophomore[57]
  • 83 Cliff Matthews - Sophomore[58]
  • 92 Byron McKnight - Freshman[59]
  • 96 Clifton Geathers - Sophomore[60]
  • 99 Jonathan Williams - Senior [61]
  
Cornerback
Defensive Back
  • 23 Jamire Williams - Freshman[68]
Linebacker
  • 4 Alonzo Winfield - Freshman[69]
  • 6 Melvin Ingram - Sophomore[70]
  • 30 Yvan Banag - Senior[71]
  • 31 Gerrod Sinclair - Junior[72]
  • 44 Dustin Lindsey - Senior[73]
  • 45 Rodney Paulk - Junior[74]
  • 48 Vandaral Shackleford - Junior[75]
  • 49 Damien Wright - Junior[76]
  • 53 Marvin Sapp - Senior[77]
  • 58 John Guerry - Junior[78]
  • 52 Jasper Brinkley - Senior[79]
Free Safety
  • 32 Darian Stewart - Junior[80]
  • 42 Mike Newton - Senior[81]
Strong Safety
Long Snapper
  • 59 Charles Turner - Sophomore[84]
Punter / Place Kicker

Awards

Rankings
See also: 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking Movement
PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Final
AP NR 24 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 24 NR NR NR
Coaches NR 24 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 23 NR NR NR
Harris Not released NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 24 NR NR NR
BCS Not released NR NR NR 25 NR NR NR NR

Statistics

Team
USCOpp
Scoring270274
  Points per Game20.821.1
First Downs241214
  Rushing9198
  Passing12995
  Penalty2121
Total Offense41153795
  Avg per Play4.74.7
  Avg per Game316.5291.5
Fumbles-Lost23-1121-13
Penalties-Yards75-64069-586
  Avg per Game49.245.1
USCOpp
Punts-Yards49-201970-2986
  Avg per Punt41.242.4
Time of Possession/Game29:4230:18
3rd Down Conversions70/18066/177
4th Down Conversions12/185/11
Touchdowns Scored3034
Field Goals-Attempts20-3012-19
PAT-Attempts30-3032-32
Attendance563,703334,446
  Games/Avg per Game7/80,5295/66,889

Scores by quarter
1 2 3 4 Total
South Carolina 44 102 39 85 270
Opponents 72 78 76 48 274

Offense

Rushing
NameGP-GSAttGainLossNetAvgTDLongAvg/G
Mike Davis12-11163615425733.535047.8
Brian Maddox7-03212871213.811317.3
Eric Baker9-04619191824.002020.2
Bobby Wallace8-02511011994.002114.1
Stephen Garcia8-370289911982.822524.8
          
          
          
          
          
          
         
Total 403148930911802.975098.3
Opponents 429187232815443.62080128.7

Passing
NameGP-GSEfficCmp-Att-IntPctYdsTDLngAvg/G
Chris Smelley12-9114.78169-302-1556.019221466160.2
Stephen Garcia8-3113.6065-122-853.3832641107.6
Tommy Beecher2-163.826-14-453.812601863.0
         
Total 113.9249-452-2755.128922066222.5
Opponents 110.0189-328-1457.01923970159.2

Receiving
NameGP-GSNo.YdsAvgTDLongAvg/G
Kenny McKinley 5464211.944164.2
Jared Cook 3757315.536644.1
Moe Brown 3039113.013430.1
Jason Barnes 2734612.823828.8
Mike Davis 242138.911817.8
Weslye Saunders 1621413.432716.5
Dion LeCorn 141067.622017.7
Joe Hills 11877.91247.9
Freddie Brown 7669.41169.4
        
        
        
        
        
Total 249284211.62066222.5
Opponents 189207011.0970159.2

Defense
Name GP Tackles Sacks Pass Defense Interceptions Fumbles Blkd
Kick
SoloAstTotalTFL-YdsNo-YdsBrUpQBHNo.-YdsAvgTDLongRcv-YdsFF
Total33215648836-14012-8119248-12615.8466-8171

Special teams
Name Punting Kickoffs
No.YdsAvgLongTBFCI20Blkd No.YdsAvgTBOB
Spencer Lanning2293242.4525250
Ryan Succop40274368.6150
Total2293242.452525040274368.6150
Name Punt Returns Kick Returns
No.YdsAvgTDLongNo.YdsAvgTDLong
Captain Munnerlyn151057.0035310635.3084
Chris Culliver1943823.1050
Larry Freeman12424.0024
Total

Coaching staff
  • Steve Spurrier - Head Coach [88]
  • Ellis Johnson - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers & Assistant Head Coach [89]
  • Shane Beamer - Cornerbacks [90]
  • Ron Cooper - Safeties [91]
  • Robert Gillespie - Running Backs [92]
  • John Hunt - Offensive Line [93]
  • Brad Lawing - Defensive Line [94]
  • David Reaves - Quarterbacks & Recruiting Coordinator [95]
  • Ray Rychleski - Special Teams [96]
  • Steve Spurrier, Jr. - Wide Receivers [97]

References
  1. "University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football". Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  2. "Gamecock Sports Radio Network". Archived from the original on 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2008-11-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2008-11-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2008-11-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-11-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  60. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2008-11-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  85. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2008-11-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  88. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  89. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  90. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  91. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  92. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  93. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  94. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  95. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  96. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
  97. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site - Football
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